Shoe-polishing machine



W. L. LIGHTSEY SHOE FOLISHING MACHINE Filed Oc't. 11, 1923' 4 Sheetshet l May 26, 1925.

W. L. LIGHTSEY SHOE POLISHING MACHINE [Sheetslsheet 2 Filed Oct. 11. 1925 May 26, 1925.

W. L. LGHTSY SHOE PoLIsHING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed oct. 11, 1925 Y 21ML MZQM Quay ze, 192s. 1,539,013

w. L.. LIGHTSEY SHOE POLISHING MACHINE WALTER REGL erroneous Application also ocr-ober 11,

To all fui/tom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, VVAnTnn L. Lioirrsnv, citizen of the Uniti-.4 States, residing at Chicago, in the count,Y of Cook and State of ll mois, have invented certain new and useful ln'iproveinents in Slice-Polishing ii/lachines, of which the following' is a` specifioaion.

l'his invention relates to certain new and useful. improvements in shoe polishing` niauliines, and llas particular referer:y Y device of this lind which will lie automat-ie and coin controlled.

lhe primary object of provide a shoe polisliingiv embraces the desired quaii and durabilityr of const-ruf' in operation.

inother object of the .invention is to provide a shoe polishing;w machine embodying fo-ot rests constructed as to he quickly and easily ljusted in accordance with the size of shoes to he polished.

.Y ne which ies of siniplicitv' on and efficiency Another object of the invention is to pro vide a polishing machine for' polishing;l shoes wherein endless polishing nienloers are given a reciimirocating motion longitudinally of the shoes as to effectivel7 polish the latter, and wherein Ithe: reciprocating nioveinent of the polishing devices is utilized for aiu'soiuati cally renderingY the machine. .inoperative at predetermined intervals.

A further object of the invention is to generally simplify and improve devices: of the aboveV kind whereby the saine may meet with all of the requirements for a successful commercial use.

Other objects will appear as the nature of 'the .invention is better understood, and 'he same consiss in the novel forni, coinloination and arrangement of parts hereinw after .more fully (ilesorihed, shown in the accoinplanying drawings, and claimed.

ln the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate correslji'ondino parts throughoirt vthe several views:

.Figure l. is a` vertical. longitudinal sectional View, of a shoe polishing' machine constructed in. accordance with the present invention, the line of section being to one side of the loi'igitudinal center o' the device.

l"iiure 2 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially upon thev line of Figure l. Y

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 9', tarea on the line of Figure l.

envois.

' Serial No. GST/,$90.

Figure l is a transverse sectional View. talren substantially upon the line l-l of Figure 2, and

Figure 5S isV an enlarged fragmentary View, partlj7 in side elevation and lpartly in placed, one foot rest being` disposed beneath each opening', and each foot rest comprising a soie nioinber 7 rigidlv carried by the upper end ol' a standard o secured upon the hottoni wall of the casing 5, the ineinher 'l' beingprovided. with a downturn'ed flange 9, at its rear end, to which are secrufed a pair of rearwardly extending); spaced parallel rods 1G, that are disposed longitudinal-ljv of the casino; and in a horizontal position as shown clearly in Figures: l, 2, and d; Slidalcly disposed upon each pair of rods 10, is a" heel rest ineinher l1, having a. flange l2 at the rear end thereof, against which the heel may he disposedn A horizontal shaft 'i3 ten-ds transversely of the casingu 5 beneath.

'the forward portions of the rods l0 of both foot rests, and this shaft is suitably rot-atabljv mounted in hearings, which may he provided in the side walls of the casing. Fixed to the shaft 13 are a pair' of upwardly extendingv a'rlns lei, each of which has its u`p1l `er end connected to one of the heel rest inenihersl ll, hy means of a link ll which extends rearwardly from its arm 14 and pivoted to a depending lug 16 provided on the under side of the adjacent heel rest member l1. @ne end of the shaft 13 projects outwardly of the casing 5 and haas a hand lever 17 lined thereon and extending irpn'ardly therefrom, it being apparent that when the lever l? is swung in one direction, the heel rest ineinhers are sin'iultaneously moved toward the solo ineinliers 7 of the' foot rest, whereby said foot rests are adjusted to a pro-per size in accordance with the size of shoe heine polished. Also, hy swinging the lever '17 in a reverse direction, the foo-t rest may he extended to a larger size by moving; the heel. rest members ll away fron-i the members 7, said heel rest members being slidably mounted upon the rods l() for this purpose.

Associated with each foot rest is a shoe polishing device, per se, and as both ot the same are sin'iilarly Constructed, deser1pt1on ot one will sutlice. Each polishing device embodies a frame composed oit if'ertieal spaced and transversely extending open rectangular trame members 1S, li) and Q0, that are rigidly connected at their lower corners by means of horizontal longitudinally extending trame bars or rods 2l, and whose lower horizontal transversely extending portions are provided with slide bearings 22 .inwardly et the frame bars 2l, through which guide rods 23 extend, one guide'rod L3" being provided at each side ot' each 'toot rest and suitably rigidly supported at their ends by the Ylront and rear walls or" the casing 5.

Extending upwardly trom each ot the frame bars 2l and hinged thereon tor lateral swinging movement are pairs of spaced arms 2l having projecting` relatively short lower ends, as at 25 (see Figure Ll), between which are disposed compression springs 26 by means ot which the upper ends ot opposed pairs of the arms 2l are normally yieldingly swung toward each other `tor a purpose which will presently become apparent. Journalled in the upper ends ot' each pairs ot arms 2li is a roller 27, while journalled in the lower portions ot said pairs et arms are rollers Q8, that are disposed directly above the ll ame bars 2l. An endless polishing element et' flexible torni, generally indicated at 2), passes around each pair ot rollers 27 and 28, so as to position one such polishing element at each side ot the roar portion oit the shoe disposed upon the adj acent toot rest. lt is thus apparent that the springs Q5 urge these polishing e ements 29 into Contact with opposite sides ot the shoe.

llavch roller Q8 is tixed upon the rear end portion olf the longitudinal shaitt 30 that is suitably journalled in the casing` and that projects forwardly to a point adjacent the trout wall ot the casing as shown clearly in Figure it. Secured upon the intermediate portions ot the shatts 30` are further rollers 3l disposed between the trame meinbers 1.9 and 520, it being noted that the rollers 2S are disposed between the trame members i8 and 19. erlournalled in the upper corner portion ot and extending between the 'frame members 19 and 2O directly above the rollers 3l and extending longitudinally ot the cas ing are further rollers 32, and another endless polishing element 33 passes around each pair ot rollers 3l and 32, as shown clearly in Figure l, the intermediate lower portion et' which polishing` element 38 is directed upwardly .tor permitting the insertion ot the forward portion ot the shoe thereunder,

as clearly illustrated in Figures l and Ll, this upwardly directed portion ot the polishing element 33 being directly above the solo rest member 7 o't' the adjacent toot rest. The pairs oit shafts 30 of each polishing device are operatively geared together by means oi' a belt 84, passing around aligned pulleys 35 on said shafts directly in 'trent ot the endless polishing elements 38, and said shafts 30 are provided with cam drums 3G, the peripheral cam grooves ot' which are engaged by rollers 37 suitably journalled upon depending pins fixed on a transverse bar 32%, that is rigidly supported above the drums 36 of all of the shafts 30 as shown clearly in Figures l and 2. The inner shai'ts 30 ot' each polishing device have pulleys Si) slidably keyed thereon so that said shal'its may move longitudinally through the pulleys 39 when the polishing devices are reciproeated, movement of the pulleys 39 being prevented in any desired manner, such as by means ot' a bracket Ll() fixed to the front wall et the casing 5 and having members disposed at opposite sides of the pulleys 39 as shown in Figure l. Mounted upon the bottom of the casing 5 beneath the pulleys 39, is an electric motor 4l having a pulley 42 upon the armature shaft thereof, a belt 43 being passed around the pulley 42 and the pulleys '59 ot the adjacent shafts 30 ot the shoe polishing devices, so that when the motor all is started, the belt 43 and pulleys 39 and 42 will provide means for rotatably driving the inner shaft of each polishing device.

ln the operation ot the device, as thus tar described, the shoes are placed within the casing upon the toot rest so that the rear portion ot' each shoe is disposed between a pair of the polishing elements 29, and the forward portion et said shoe is disposed beneath the upwardly directed lower portion ot a polishing element 33. The motor ll is then started so as to drive the inner shaft 3i) et bot-h polishing devices, the rotation o'l" the inner shaft ot one polishing device being imparted to the other shaft thereof, through the medium ot the pulleys 34 and 35. Through the rotation ot the shaft 30, the polishing elements are caused to travel because the same pass around the rollers 2S and 3l that are 'tired upon said shatt 30, Then this takes place, the polishing devices are bodily reciprocated longitudinally ol the shoe by engagement ot the rollers 53T in the cam grooves oit the drums B6 that are fixed upon said shatt 30, The forward edge oi" the shaft 30 slides through the pulleys 39 as the polishing devices are reeiprocated, and in this manner effective polishing of the shoes is attained, it being understood that the polishing elements 29 are maintained in intimate contact with the opposite sides oit' the rear portion ot the shoes by means ot the springs 2G. Journalled above the bar 38 is a relatively short {11ans-verse shalt 44 having a peripheral lug lformed upon a. disc 45 that is secured thereon. A ratchet wheel 47 is also securedupon the shaft 44 in position to be engaged by a pawli48`that is fined to and projects forwardly from the trame member 20 of one of the polishing devices. Another pawl 49 isiixed to this iframe meniber I2() `and has a hooked tree end which is normally disposed in afplane above the adjacent hooked end of another pawl 50 that projects rearwardly `'from and is pivoted to a slide 5l for vertical-swinging `movement, said slide 5l being mounted upon a suitable bracket 52 carried by the front' wall ot the casing as shown in Figure l, and being normally held in for-ward position by means of a tension spring 53.

Hinged tothe top wall oi' 'the casing 5'is a beil crank member 54, the forwardly projc-:ctinj` upper horizontal arm otb which forms a switch plate 55 adapted to swinginto and out ot position between a pair Vot fixed electrical contacts providefhas at 56, (see Figure similar to con'imon types ot knife blade switches now in use. The contacts 56 are suitably rigidly supported from the iront wall of the casing 5 and are 4each adapted to be connected to one terminal ot the motor 4l in a manne-r well known yto electricians, whereby Vwhen the blade 55' swings between said contacts 5G, the latter will be bridged for closing the motor circuit which is normally open when they blade 55 is disengaged from the contact 56 as illustrated in Figure 5. The other arm ot the bell crank member 54 depends in a vertical position, as shown in Figure l` in the path ot an uinvardly extending lug 57 provided upon the 't'orward end of the slide 5l. The casing 5 is provided at its upper Yforward portion with a compartment 58, the top wall ot' which is provided with a coin receiving slide 59 that is operatively engaged with one arm oit a bell crank lever 60, the other arm et' which is pivoted to a vertical link 61, which has its lower end provided with a pin G2 extending transversely of and beneath the upper arm ot the rbell crank member 54. The slide 59 may be normally spring pressed outwardly as at 53 in position to receive a coin as shown in Figure 5.

lVhen a coin is placed as at C within the coin receiving slot of the slide 59, the latter is t'oreed inwardly against the action of the spring 63 so as to swing the bell crank lever (SO and cause au upward pull upon the link (5l. The pin 62 engages the upper arm of the bell crank member 54 so as to swing said arm upwardly to engage the knii'e'blade between the contacts 56, whereupon the operation of the motor 41 is started. Upon the reciprocation of the polishing devices, the pawl 48 will engage a tooth of the ratchet wheel 47 upon each forward movement ot'the pawl so that when the polishing devices move rearwardly7 said ratchet wheel is turned the distance oi` one tooth each time. rlhe'ratchet wheel 47 is thus rotated until the lug 45 engages the pawl '50 sopas to swing `the-latter upwardly in the path of the pawl 49 which, upon rearward movement of the polishing devices will cause the slide 5l to move rearwardly for engaging the lug 5( with the depending arm ot the bell c ank element 54, whereby the `latter is tilted toswing the lblade 55fdowi`iwardly and from between the contacts 5G, so as to automatically stop `the operati onof the motor 4l. rihe device 'is then set for a repetition oft this operation, which will require the insertion ot another coin for permitting the circuit oit the motor to be again established.

From the 'foregoing descriijition, it is believed that the lconstruction and operation, as well as the advantages of the invention will be readily understood and lappreciated by those skilled in the art.

Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ot the invention as claimed.

l/Vhat I claim as new is:

ifi-n a polishing machine et ythe class describe/cl, a casing having a pair oi"- itootv rests mounted therein and provided withtop openings through which shoes maybe inserted for positioning' upon 'saidf foot rest, a polishing device associated with each foot rest and embodying endless travelling polishing'ieiements disposed atV opposite sides ot the rear portion ot each toot rest7 said' polishing devices each also including an endless polishing` element disposed to travel transversely ot the 'forward portion ofthe shoe disposed upon the adjacent 'foot rest, means 'for imparting travelling movement to the polishing elements including rollers about which said polishing elements pass, and common shafts upon which said rollers are stationed, and means to automatically cause longitudinal reciprocating movement ot the polisl'iing devices relative to the foot rest.

2. In a polishing machine ot the character described. a casinghaving a top wall provided with openings in the rear end thereof through which shoes may be introduced, a pair ot' foot rests .fixed within the casing in position to receive the shoes thereon when inserted through said openings, means for polishingsaid shoes said foot rests each embodying a standard fixed upon the bottom ot the casing and having a rigid sole rest member upon the upper end thereof, rearwardly projecting longitudinal rods rigid with the rear ends of said sole members of the foot rests, and heel rest members slidable longitudinally upon said rods for move- 1ment toward and away from the sole mem- 3er.

vl O

3. In a polishing machine of the character described, a casing having a top wall pro# vided with openings in the rear end thereot' through which shoes may be introduced, a pair ol' foot rests Xed within the casing in position to receive the shoes thereon when inserted through said openings, means for polishing said shoes said toot rests each embodying a standard fixed upon the bottom of the casing and having a rigid sole rest` member upon the upper end thereof, rearwardly projecting longitudinal rods rigid with the rear ends of said sole'members oil' the foot rests` heel rest members slidable longitudinally upon said rods for movement' toward and awa-y from the sole member, a shaft journalled in the casing` transversely between the sole members and the heel rest, and operatively connected to said heel rest whereby rocking movement ot the shaft will cause sliding movement of the heel rest toward and away from said sole members7 and means adapted for manual operation externally ot the casing for rocking said shaft.

4. In a shoe polishingmachine of the character described, a foot rest, endless vertically disposed polishing elements mounted at opposite sides of the rear portion ol" the toot rest for lateral swinging movement toward and away lfrom each other, yieldable means normally swinging said polishing elements toward each other for engagement with opposite sides of the rear portion of a shoe, means for imparting travelling movement to said endless polishing elements, another endless polishing element disposed at the forward portion of the shoe rest and in cluding an upwardly bulged horizontally extending portion adapted to pass over the upper portion oit' the forward part of the foot rest, and a shoe supported thereon, and means whereby the rotation oit the first named polishing` element is imparted to said last named polishing element.

5. In a shoe polishing machine ot the character described, a toot rest, endless vertically disposed polishing elements mounted at opposite sides of' the rear portion oit he foot rest tor late 'al swinging movement toward and away from each other, and yieldable means normally swinging said polishing elements toward each other for engagement with opposite sides of the rear portion of a shoe, and means for imparting travelling movement to said endless polishing` elements, another endless polishing element disposed at the forward portion o1 the shoe rest and including` an upwardly bulgin.;v hori'flontally extending portion adapted to pass over the upper portion of the forward part of the shoe rest and a shoe supported thereon, and means whereby rotation of the rst named polishing` element is imparted to said last named polishing elementysaid polishing elements being mounted upon a traine that is bodily reoiprocable longitudii'ially of the Ytoot rest, and means for causing reciprocation ot' said polishing device upon imparting` travelling movement to the endless polishing elements thereof.

ln testimony whereof I my signature.

TALTER L. LIGHTSEY. 

